In the 1984 film "The Terminator", which actor plays the title cyborg?

In the 1984 film “The Terminator,” Arnold Schwarzenegger plays the title cyborg. His character is a Cyberdyne Systems Model 101, commonly called a T-800, sent back from 2029 to assassinate Sarah Connor before her son can lead humanity’s resistance against Skynet.

Schwarzenegger was initially considered for the role of Kyle Reese, the human soldier played by Michael Biehn. Director James Cameron instead recognized that Schwarzenegger’s imposing physique, distinctive presence, and limited dialogue suited the machine antagonist. The casting helped turn the relatively modestly budgeted film into a major success and established Schwarzenegger as a leading action star.

A common mix-up is calling the character a robot. In the film’s terminology, the Terminator is a cyborg: a metal endoskeleton covered with living human tissue, allowing it to infiltrate human society. The character’s identity also changes across the franchise. In the first film he is an unstoppable villain, while in “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” a similar Schwarzenegger model becomes John Connor’s protector.

The 1984 film was directed and co-written by James Cameron and co-written by Gale Anne Hurd. It introduced the franchise’s time-travel conflict between Skynet, Sarah Connor, Kyle Reese, and the machine armies of the future.